creating a universal noaa oil spill response plan: … · objectives to develop a ship oil...
TRANSCRIPT
Creating a Universal NOAA Oil Spill Response Plan: The challenges in forming a functional
response plan along all line offices operating NOAA small boats
1 08/02/2016
Objectives To develop a Ship Oil
Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP)
To ensure the functional worth of the plan across all line offices
Create the backbone of a dynamic plan that can be relevant to every large vessel in the NOAA small boat fleet.
What Prompted the need for a SOPEP? “R/V Laidly” fire in
2012
Formal plan not in place
Financial crisis developed dealing with the hazardous waste left behind
What’s in a“SOPEP”? Vessel specs for all types of
oils, water, and sewage on-board
Emergency contacts and notification agencies
Initial Report forms for state and national agencies.
Sensitive areas (Sanctuaries, breeding grounds, etc.)
Most importantly, contacts for funds
Response Tier
1st Tier
• Contractor (OSROs (Oil Spill Response Organization))
2nd Tier • Finance and Acquisitions
3rd Tier
• NOAA Emergency Response (PR & Management) • Miscellaneous specific to the vessel
Notification Tier
Each Vessel has specific notification trees based on location, state authorities, and federal law***
1st Tier
• National Response Center (NRC) • Coast Guard RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) • VOC (Vessel Operations Coordinator)
2nd Tier
• State Organizations/Sanctuaries • NOAA Affiliated Response (OR&R, etc.)
3rd Tier
• Harbormasters/ Env. Managers of the Port • Local Concerned Parties
How to you build a “SOPEP”? The project was started with a
large commercial ship SOPEP and made more appropriate for small vessels
A SOPEP contains a robust list of people and organizations
The structural foundation is the same and the contacts are customized for each vessel
Identify aid contacts versus notification in an emergency
People/Organizations Involved United States Coast Guard (USCG)
NRC and RCC Relevant State Authorities National Marine Sanctuaries Financial Acquisitions Office Response Contractors (OSROs) Homeport or docking port
resources Harbormasters Environmental Managers
Vessel Operations Coordinators (VOCs)
NOAA Affiliated Response Emergency Response (OR & R) Marine Debris, etc.
Others that are vessel specific
Major Obstacles Obligating funds is the hardest problem to overcome Identifying an emergency financial response
The structure is in place, but not necessarily at the rate an environmental emergency requires
Rotating personnel or vacancies within the NOAA response structure can cause confusion or delays.
Emergency Finances Each vessel is given
$3500.00 credit card spending authority
This usually covers the contractor arriving and nothing else
The average small boat spill cost 35K ( not considering after hours considerations in cost!)
Credit card authorization process
Immediate Spending Percentage
Credit CardSpendingAuthorityActual Cost
See the problem?
In the field vs. In the office Non-standard
terminology between line offices and field personnel
A SOPEP provides a common language to limit confusion in reporting a spill, who to contact, and what responsibility each position holds
What can be done to improve the process?
Streamline the financials Develop contracts and memos to verify funds
immediately (no matter the hour and circumvent the traditional structure for the initial response)
Existing financial avenues may be too slow for a spill to be effective in the clean-up process
How do we go fleet-wide? A template of the plan with instructions will be sent
out to larger vessels in the small boat fleet The specifics of each plan will be filled out by Vessel
Operations Coordinators (VOC) and associated personnel.
Each blank SOPEP comes with instructions on how to build a customized response plan, maintain the plan, and account for exceptional individual circumstances.
Were you successful? A standardized template for a SOPEP was created for
all vessels to develop their own plan. Completed SOPEPs were delivered to R/V MANTA and
R/V TATOOSH. A disparity with obligating finances within a critical
time period was identified but not completely resolved. Financials must be individually determined with each
line office.
How this was accomplished Spent hours and travel
talking to individuals in NOAA about their perspectives and needs
Worked with field personnel through senior leadership
Solicited opinions, effectively used given suggestions, and mirrored successful SOPEPs for the larger vessels.